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**Udog** · 10-04-2018, 09:05 AM

Armadillo: Thursday's six-pack

Some interesting NFL trends for the week:

— Steelers are 2-8 vs spread in their last ten games.

— Chargers are 2-11 vs spread in last 13 AFC West home games.

— Minnesota is 12-3 vs spread in its last fifteen games.

— Chiefs are 7-2 in last nine games as a home favorite.

— 49ers are 3-10 in their last 13 games as home favorites.

— Washington is 2-8 in game following its last ten byes.

**********

Armadillo: Thursday's List of 13: Doing some thinking out loud……

13) One of the coolest things about coming to Las Vegas is that this is the big leagues of gambling; sometimes I lose sight of that on my visits here. Tuesday, a guy cashed $41,500 worth of baseball futures winnings and used that money on five futures wagers on NBA/NHL teams, and a baseball bet.

Full disclosure: this gentleman likes the Heat/Mavericks in NBA, Sharks/Sabres in NHL, and the Brewers to win the World Series.

12) After scoring a TD with 0:26 left in Sunday’s game and up 31-12, Jacksonville went for two points; why? Does Doug Marrone hate the Jets? Did the Jets get mad? Why is this smart?

Just kick the PAT and go home; whats the point of making an enemy for the future?

11) Patrick Mahomes sat the first 15 games LY and then played the last game; did sitting and watching almost a whole season of games help him this season? Is it fair to throw a rookie into the fray right out of college, especially if he left college early?

These are billion dollar questions that NFL teams have to answer. Answer them wrong, and you’ll be looking for a new job.

10) One person on ESPN who is well worth watching: Scott Van Pelt on the late SportsCenter. He is smart, has a sense of humor and his people work at their jobs- they provide good info.

9) 76ers-Mavericks are playing two games in China this weekend; hopefully no one will steal anything and embarrass our country, the way the UCLA kids did last year.

8) Was fun to flip channels Monday night and find an Orlando-Philly preseason game; I’m a basketball guy, though more of a college hoop guy, but was fun to see an NBA game.

7) Le’Veon Bell will return to the Steelers during their bye week (Week 7) so he’ll miss two more games. Would be interesting to see the greeting he gets from teammates when he returns.

6) Tampa Bay did the expected and named Jameis Winston starting QB for their game next week; Buccaneers have their bye this week.

Did Ryan Fitzpatrick do enough to earn a contract form yet another team next year?

5) Scapegoat: a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others, especially for reasons of expediency.

Arizona fired hitting coach Dave Magadan this week. Yup, it was all his fault; maybe they shouldn’t have put a humidor in the stadium, to deaden the baseballs. I’m pretty sure that wasn’t Magadan who decided to do that.

4) Minnesota Twins surprisingly made the playoffs LY, went 78-84 this year, and then fired Paul Molitor Tuesday after four seasons running the team. Why?

The worst part of the Analystics Era is that the pencil pushers don’t value managers nearly enough, and believe me, I’m a pencil pusher myself. But I know how important a manager is in setting the tone for the team and keeping things positive.

Computers and charts don’t win games; players do, and the human interaction between players and coaches is very important.

3) Backup PG DJ Augustin has finally found a home with the Orlando Magic; this will be his third year in Orlando, after he played for seven different teams in five years, from 2012-16.

2) Last six times Baltimore Ravens beat their rivals the Steelers, they went 4-2 vs spread the next week, so not much post-victory letdown for them.

1) Surprising fact: Over last 23 years, only five times has the team with the best regular season record won the World Series.

**Udog** · 10-04-2018, 09:15 AM

NLDS Cheat Sheet
Kevin Rogers

2018 Head-to-Head Matchups (Milwaukee 5-2, Under 4-3)

Milwaukee vs. Colorado (Coors Field)
May 10 – Brewers 5, Rockies 2 (Under 11 ½)
May 11 – Brewers 11, Rockies 10 (Over 11 ½)
May 12 – Rockies 4, Brewers 0 (Under 11)
May 13 – Brewers 7, Rockies 3 (Under 10 ½)

Colorado vs. Milwaukee (Miller Park)
August 3 – Brewers 5, Rockies 3 (Under 8 ½)
August 4 – Brewers 8, Rockies 4 (Over 8 ½)
August 5 – Rockies 5, Brewers 4 (Over 8 ½)

This month may be referred to as “Rocktober” in the Denver area after the Rockies eliminated the Cubs in the NL Wild Card game in 13 innings. However, the Rockies’ opponent in the NLDS is riding plenty of momentum as the Brewers are red-hot following a spectacular September.

On September 1, following a one-run loss to the Nationals coupled with a Cubs’ blowout win over the Phillies, the Brewers sat five games out of the lead in the NL Central race. Milwaukee turned it up over the next 30 days by winning 20 of the final 26 games, including Monday’s 3-1 triumph at Chicago to wrap up its first division title since 2011. Also, the Brewers went from potentially hosting the NL Wild Card game (with a loss to the Cubs) to owning home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs.

Milwaukee’s resurgence this season following an 86-76 campaign in 2017 is attributed to several key offensive additions in the offseason. Most notably the pickup of outfielder Christian Yelich from the Marlins, who captured the NL batting title (.326), while finishing tied for third in home runs (36), and tied for second in RBI (110). Lorenzo Cain returned to Milwaukee after a successful stint in Kansas City as the center fielder hit .308 to go along with 30 stolen bases, which both ranked in the top-five in the NL.

The Brewers’ pitching staff showcased only one hurler that won double-digit games as former Colorado right-hander Jhoulys Chacin won a career-best 15 starts. Chacin posted career-highs in strikeouts (156) and WHIP (1.16) in his first season with the Brewers, but has lost his last three starts at Miller Park. Chacin beat the Rockies at Coors Field in May as a +135 underdog, 5-2 by tossing 5.2 innings and yielding four hits and two runs.

The Rockies overcame a ridiculous travel schedule in a three-day stretch to reach the NLDS for the first time since 2009. Colorado forced a Game 163 by routing Washington at home on Sunday, but the Rockies lost to the Dodgers in Los Angeles, 5-2 to be denied their first-ever NL West title. The Rockies then had to travel to Chicago to face a Cubs’ team that had been at home the entire weekend plus Monday in their pseudo-division championship game against the Brewers.

Colorado held off Chicago, 2-1 in 13 innings to bounce back from last year’s Wild Card loss at Arizona as the Rockies improved 10-2 in the last 12 games overall. In Tuesday’s victory at Wrigley Field, Rockies’ southpaw Kyle Freeland tossed 6.2 spectacular innings in his playoff debut as the Rockies moved to 16-2 in his previous 18 starts.

Although he lost in Game 163 to the Dodgers, right-hander German Marquez has been a key member of the Rockies’ rotation this season. Colorado has compiled a 12-5 record in his past 17 starts since the end of June, while dominating Milwaukee at Miller Park in early August. Marquez scattered three hits and two runs in seven innings, but the Colorado bullpen couldn’t hold onto a 3-2 lead as Milwaukee walked-off in the ninth inning in a 5-3 triumph.

The Brewers and Rockies are meeting in the playoffs for the first time ever as Colorado is looking to advance past the NLDS for the first time since capturing the pennant in 2007. The Brewers last reached the NLCS in 2011 as they lost to the Cardinals, while never making the World Series since moving to the National League in 1998.

2018 Head-to-Head Matchups (Los Angeles 5-2, Over 4-3)

Atlanta vs. Los Angeles (Dodger Stadium)
June 8 – Dodgers 3, Braves 1 (Over 7 ½)
June 9 – Braves 5, Dodgers 3 (Over 7 ½)
June 10 – Dodgers 7, Braves 2 (Over 7)

Los Angeles vs. Atlanta (SunTrust Park)
July 26 – Dodgers 8, Braves 2 (Over 8 ½)
July 27 – Dodgers 4, Braves 1 (Under 8)
July 28 – Dodgers 5, Braves 1 (Under 9)
July 29 – Braves 4, Dodgers 1 (Under 8 ½)

Four of the five playoff teams in the National League needed to play on Monday to decide the NL Central and NL West titles. The only team to sit back and kick their feet was the NL East champion Braves, who captured their first division crown since 2013, but owned the fewest wins of any playoff squad with 90.

Atlanta beat up the competition inside the NL East, specifically the Marlins, Phillies, and Mets, the three teams that finished with losing records. The Braves posted a solid 39-18 record against those squads, but went 51-54 against the rest of the league, while failed to put together a winning mark against any of the other NL playoff teams in the regular season.

On the positive side, the Braves finished second in the National League in batting average at .257 behind the Cubs, while scoring 759 runs, which ranked tied for fourth in the NL with the Cardinals. Three Braves’ starting pitchers owned an ERA of 3.00 or less, led by right-hander Mike Foltynewicz, who won a team-best 13 games, while mid-season acquisition Kevin Gausman was unbeaten in five starts at SunTrust Park.

Foltynewicz struck out the sixth-most batters in the NL this season with 202, while fellow starters Sean Newcomb and Julio Teheran each struck out over 160 batters. In his only start against the Dodgers this season, Foltynewicz allowed four runs in five innings of a 4-1 home defeat in July. Newcomb nearly no-hit the Dodgers in that same July series, as the southpaw settled for a 4-1 underdog victory. However, Newcomb struggled down the stretch as the Braves lost five of his final seven starts.

The Dodgers won 13 of their final 17 games to force a division championship game on Monday against the Rockies. Los Angeles cruised to a 5-2 victory to wrap up its sixth consecutive NL West title, while improving to 13-4 at home the last 17 games since getting swept by St. Louis in late August.

Prior to this season, not many people would predict that Max Muncy and Matt Kemp, who were not on the Dodgers’ roster last season, would combine for 56 home runs and 164 runs batted in. The Dodgers showcased seven players to hit at least 20 home runs this season, which doesn’t include Manny Machado, who knocked out a total of 37 home runs between his time and Los Angeles and Baltimore.

The big question heading into the postseason following last year’s Game 7 loss in the World Series to Houston is whether or not Clayton Kershaw can lead the Dodgers to their first championship since 1988. Los Angeles won four of Kershaw’s five postseason starts in 2017, but had to pitch out of the bullpen in Game 7 after the Dodgers trailed, 5-0 to the Astros. Kershaw is unbeaten in his last eight starts, while he shut down the Braves at SunTrust Park in July as the Dodgers are 7-0 in his past seven starts against Atlanta dating back to 2013.

However, Kershaw will start Game 2 for Los Angeles and turn to another left-hander in Game 1 as Hyun-Jin Ryu gets the ball. Ryu closed the regular season on fire by winning each of his final three starts, while allowing four hits in each outing and a total of one run. In Ryu’s nine home starts this season, the Dodgers posted a solid 7-2 mark as he owned a miniscule ERA of 1.15 at Chavez Ravine.

The Dodgers and Braves are meeting in the playoffs for the third time ever as Los Angeles eliminated Atlanta in four games of the NLDS back in 2013. Los Angeles had advanced to the NLCS in each of the past two seasons, while Atlanta is seeking its first trip to the NLCS since 2001 as the Braves have lost seven consecutive playoff series.

**Udog** · 10-04-2018, 09:54 AM

MLB
Long Sheet

Thursday, October 4

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COLORADO (92 - 72) at MILWAUKEE (96 - 67) - 5:05 PM
TYLER ANDERSON (L) vs. WADE MILEY (L)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
MILWAUKEE is 5-2 (+3.8 Units) against COLORADO this season
4 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.8 Units)

TYLER ANDERSON vs. MILWAUKEE since 1997
ANDERSON is 1-2 when starting against MILWAUKEE with an ERA of 8.59 and a WHIP of 1.636.
His team's record is 1-2 (-1.1 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-2. (-1.2 units)

WADE MILEY vs. COLORADO since 1997
MILEY is 7-2 when starting against COLORADO with an ERA of 4.03 and a WHIP of 1.319.
His team's record is 8-5 (+1.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 8-4. (+4.2 units)

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ATLANTA (90 - 72) at LA DODGERS (92 - 71) - 8:35 PM
MIKE FOLTYNEWICZ (R) vs. HYUN-JIN RYU (L)
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 30-41 (-24.0 Units) against the money line in playoff games since 1997.
ATLANTA is 90-71 (+19.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
ATLANTA is 15-11 (+10.1 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +125 to +175 this season.
ATLANTA is 47-34 (+19.6 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
ATLANTA is 59-49 (+8.8 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
ATLANTA is 40-31 (+6.7 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
ATLANTA is 46-39 (+13.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ATLANTA is 30-32 (+19.0 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 92-71 (-21.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
LA DODGERS are 18-23 (-17.7 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -125 to -175 this season.
LA DODGERS are 45-37 (-21.1 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
LA DODGERS are 8-12 (-14.0 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 7 or less this season.
LA DODGERS are 49-52 (-26.2 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Thursday since 1997.
LA DODGERS are 64-53 (-19.2 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
LA DODGERS are 52-46 (-20.2 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
LA DODGERS are 11-16 (-16.5 Units) against the money line after 3 or more consecutive wins this season.
RYU is 5-12 (-10.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
LA DODGERS is 5-2 (+1.9 Units) against ATLANTA this season
4 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.5 Units)

MIKE FOLTYNEWICZ vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
FOLTYNEWICZ is 1-1 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 5.56 and a WHIP of 1.500.
His team's record is 1-1 (+0.9 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-1. (-0.2 units)

HYUN-JIN RYU vs. ATLANTA since 1997
RYU is 0-1 when starting against ATLANTA with an ERA of 4.22 and a WHIP of 1.500.
His team's record is 2-2 (+0.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-2. (+0.0 units)

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MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Thursday, October 4

National League
Rockies (92-72) @ Brewers (96-67)
Senzatela is 2-0, 1.62 in his last three starts; his last six starts stayed under. Team in his starts: 7-6, 3-4 road
5-inning record: 5-6-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-13

It is a bullpen game for Milwaukee. Team in his starts: home
5-inning record: Allowed run in 1st inning:

Colorado won ten of its last 12 games, including four of last five on road. Rockies played at home Sunday, in LA Monday, in Chicago Tuesday- they’re in Milwaukee here. Brewers won their last eight games, only three of which were at home.

Colorado lost Wild Card game LY, their first playoffs appearance since 2009. Brewers are in the playoffs for first time since 2011.

Braves (90-72) @ Dodgers (92-71)
Foltynewicz is 3-1, 3.09 in his last five starts; over is 4-2 in his last six. He lost 4-1 to LA July July 27, allowing four runs in five IP. Team in his starts: 14-16, 8-7 road
5-inning record: 15-9-6 Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-30

Ryu is 3-0, 0.47 in his last three starts; over is 5-2 in his last seven. He didn’t pitch against the Braves this year. Team in his starts: 9-5, 7-2 home
5-inning record: 8-4-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-14

Braves lost four of their last five games, after they had clinched NL East- they’re in playoffs for first time since 2013. Dodgers won four in row, 10 of last 13 games; they won six of last seven home games. LA is in playoffs for sixth year in row; they haven’t won a World Series since 1988.

______________________________

Teams’ records in first five innings:
Team (road-home-total)- thru 9/18
Atl 32-30-13…..35-31-10………67-61
Colo 35-29-15……37-26-11……71-55
LA 40-28-8…….34-29-16……74-57
Milw 31-34-10…..39-30-8…….70-64

%age of times teams score in first inning (road/home/total- 9/18)
Atl 23-74……31-77………54
Colo 23-78…….29-74.…….52
LA 26-75……..29-78..…..55
Milw 27-74…..…30-79…….57

MLB

Thursday, October 4

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Trend Report
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Colorado Rockies
Colorado is 10-2 ATS in its last 12 games
Colorado is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games
Colorado is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Colorado is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Colorado's last 16 games on the road
Colorado is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Milwaukee
Colorado is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing Milwaukee
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Colorado's last 12 games when playing Milwaukee
Colorado is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Milwaukee's last 8 games
Milwaukee is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Colorado
Milwaukee is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing Colorado
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Milwaukee's last 12 games when playing Colorado
Milwaukee is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games when playing at home against Colorado

Atlanta Braves
Atlanta is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Atlanta is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games
Atlanta is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Atlanta is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games on the road
Atlanta is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games on the road
Atlanta is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing LA Dodgers
Atlanta is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing LA Dodgers
Atlanta is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Atlanta's last 8 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
LA Dodgers is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
LA Dodgers is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of LA Dodgers's last 9 games
LA Dodgers is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
LA Dodgers is 8-17 ATS in its last 25 games at home
LA Dodgers is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
LA Dodgers is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta
LA Dodgers is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta
LA Dodgers is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 7 of LA Dodgers's last 8 games when playing at home against Atlanta

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MLB
Weather Report

Thursday, October 4

**Udog** · 10-04-2018, 11:32 AM

The Brewers have announced their "initial out getter" for today's NLDS Game 1 against the Rockies will be Brandon Woodruff.
Rockies (Senzatela) +126
Brewers (Woodruff - bullpen) -137
Total: 8.5

**Udog** · 10-04-2018, 11:57 AM

MLB
Dunkel

Thursday, October 4

Colorado @ Milwaukee

Game 901-902
October 4, 2018 @ 5:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Colorado
(Senzatela) 19.545
Milwaukee
(Woodruff) 16.127
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Colorado
by 3 1/2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Milwaukee
-140
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Colorado
(+120); Over

Atlanta @ LA Dodgers

Game 903-904
October 4, 2018 @ 8:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Atlanta
(Fltynwcz) 16.383
LA Dodgers
(Ryu) 15.265
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Atlanta
by 1
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Dodgers
-175
7
Dunkel Pick:
Atlanta
(+155); Under

**Udog** · 10-04-2018, 12:46 PM

STARTER STAT OF THE DAY

Hyun-Jin Ryu, Los Angeles Dodgers (7-3, 1.97 ERA, $196): The Braves might boast one of the toughest challenges for a left-handed starter, but if anyone can keep those Atlanta bats silent, it's Ryu. He was positively dominant this season, allowing more than three earned runs just twice in his 15 starts. And he saved some of his best work for last, having given up just one run over 19 innings in his past three turns.

Atlanta has a lineup capable of doing some damage against Ryu, but it likely won't be via the home run. Ryu has surrendered just six long balls over his previous 10 starts and was taken deep just three times in nine starts at Dodger Stadium. If Ryu can give the Dodgers six solid innings, L.A. should walk away with the victory - and might even cash the run line (+125).

Primed for a Fast Start?

Don't be surprised to see the Brewers jump on Senzatela early, at least if season trends hold. Milwaukee was one of the most prolific first-inning teams in the league during the regular season. The Brewers ranked tied for fourth in baseball in average first-inning runs per game (0.69), and were even better at home, putting up 0.81 runs per contest in the opening frame.

Senzatela was roughed up in the first inning this season, boasting a 5.54 ERA while allowing an ugly .340/.393/.472 slash line against. Consider taking the Brewers to produce a run in the bottom of the first inning ().

High and Mighty

Home runs often lead to big innings – so when considering which team is likely to put up the biggest single-inning run total, measuring each team's long ball potential is a great place to start. And when it comes to the Dodgers and Braves, it's clear that the home side has enormous potential for a big inning compared to the visitors.

The Dodgers mashed 235 homers in the regular season, 60 more than the Braves. Combine that with the fact that Ryu hasn't given up more than two earned runs in an inning all season, we lean toward the Dodgers posting the biggest inning (+105).

Power Outage?

Of course, playoff success is all about pitching – and the way that Foltynewitz and Ryu have limited opposing home runs this season, it's possible that neither team goes deep in the series opener. Foltynewicz surrendered just seven home runs in his 15 road starts in 2018, with only two of those homers coming in his previous six starts away from Atlanta.

It's a bit of a longshot play, but if you anticipate a pitcher's duel in this one, you can ride the zero-homer train, which pays out at a tempting +210.

**StarDust Bum** · 10-04-2018, 01:25 PM

ALDS Cheat Sheet
October 4, 2018

2018 Head-to-Head Matchups (Astros 4-3, Over 5-2)

Cleveland vs. Houston (Minute Maid Park)
May 18 – Astros 4, Indians 1 (Under 7 ½)
May 19 – Indians 5, Astros 4 (Over 7)
May 20 – Astros 3, Indians 1 (Under 7 ½)

Houston vs. Cleveland (Progressive Field)
May 24 – Astros 8, Indians 2 (Over 8)
May 25 – Astros 11, Indians 2 (Over 7 ½)
May 26 – Indians 8, Astros 6 (Over 8)
May 27 – Indians 10, Astros 9 (Over 8)

The Astros begin their title defense after winning over 100 games for the second straight season. Houston compiled as many road wins (57) as Boston did at home, while finishing with the seventh-best home mark in the American League at 46-35. On August 19, the Astros and Athletics were tied atop the AL West at 74-49, as Houston won the finale of a critical three-game set in Oakland, 9-4. Since that victory, the Astros went on a 28-10 run to grab the AL West championship, including a 12-2 record at Minute Maid Park.

Staff ace Justin Verlander will take the mound in Game 1 for Houston, as the Astros put together a putrid 2-8 record at Minute Maid Park from June through August to lose over 17 units in that span. However, Verlander rebounded in the final month of the season as Houston won all five of his starts, including a 3-0 mark at home. Verlander struck out double-digit batters in each of his last four starts, while not allowing a run in his final two outings. Verlander posted a 3-0 record at home in the playoffs during the 2017 championship run, while the right-hander is making his first start against Cleveland this season.

Gerrit Cole put together a 15-5 record in his first season in Houston, while the Astros won his final six starts. The right-hander yielded two earned runs or less in 21 starts this season, as Cole allowed three earned runs in seven innings of a 10-9 defeat to Cleveland back in late May. Houston led that game, 8-3 headed to the bottom of the ninth before Cleveland rallied for five runs to force extra innings and ultimately won in 14.

The Indians were one win away in 2016 from the franchise’s first World Series title since 1948, but blew a 3-1 lead to the Cubs. Last season, Cleveland jumped out to a commanding 2-0 ALDS advantage over New York, but the Yankees stormed back for three straight wins to knock out the Tribe. Cleveland will try to get it right this time around after raising its third consecutive AL Central title following a 91-71 campaign.

In late May, the Indians were 24-25 after losing the first two games of a home series with the Astros, but still managed to stay in first place. Cleveland went on to win 28 of the next 46 games heading into the All-Star break to grab firm control of the division, while going on a 15-4 run in August to complete distance itself from the pack.

Corey Kluber has won the AL Cy Young award twice in his career (2014 and 2017), but had never reached the 20-victory mark in a season prior to 2018. Kluber finished this season at 20-7, while owning an ERA below 3.00 (2.89) for the third time in his stellar career. In Game 1 on Friday, Kluber gets the ball at Minute Maid Park for an afternoon affair as the Cleveland ace put together a 9-0 mark with a 1.93 ERA in daytime starts this season. Kluber performed well in two outings against Houston this season by allowing two earned runs in 13 innings of work, including a 5-4 triumph at Minute Maid Park in May. However, Kluber has struggled in his last three playoff starts by giving up 13 runs, while not lasting past the fourth inning in any of those appearances.

Fellow right-hander Carlos Carrasco put together nearly the same numbers in 2018 as he did in 2017, winning 17 games each season while his ERA slightly jumped from 3.28 to 3.38. Carrasco struck out a career-best 231 batters compared to walking only 43, while the Indians finished UNDER the total in seven of his final 12 starts. Carrasco wasn’t sharp in two appearances against Houston this season by giving up 15 hits and eight earned runs in 13.1 innings of work.

The Indians and Astros are meeting in the playoffs for the first time ever as Cleveland has won four consecutive postseason series openers (all at home). During last season’s championship run, the Astros compiled a strong 8-1 record at Minute Maid Park, while limiting its opponents to three runs or less in its three playoff series openers in 2017.

2018 Head-to-Head Matchups (Red Sox 10-9, Over 11-6-2)

New York vs. Boston (Fenway Park)
April 10 – Red Sox 14, Yankees 1 (Over 6 ½)
April 11 – Yankees 10, Red Sox 7 (Over 8)
April 12 – Red Sox 6, Yankees 3 (Push 9)

August 2 – Red Sox 15, Yankees 7 (Over 10)
August 3 – Red Sox 4, Yankees 1 (Under 9)
August 4 – Red Sox 4, Yankees 1 (Under 10)
August 5 – Red Sox 5, Yankees 4 (Push 9)

September 28 – Yankees 11, Red Sox 6 (Over 9 ½)
September 29 – Yankees 8, Red Sox 5 (Over 9 ½)
September 30 – Red Sox 10, Yankees 2 (Over 9)

Boston vs. New York (Yankee Stadium)
May 8 – Yankees 3, Red Sox 2 (Under 8 ½)
May 9 – Yankees 9, Red Sox 6 (Over 8 ½)
May 10 – Red Sox 5, Yankees 4 (Under 9 ½)

June 29 – Yankees 8, Red Sox 1 (Under 9 ½)
June 30 – Red Sox 11, Yankees 0 (Over 8 ½)
July 1 – Yankees 11, Red Sox 1 (Over 8 ½)
September 18 – Yankees 3, Red Sox 2 (Under 9)
September 19 – Yankees 10, Red Sox 1 (Over 8 ½)
September 20 – Red Sox 11, Yankees 6 (Over 8 ½)

Red Sox. Yankees. The preview should end here.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t. These two rivals are hooking up for the third time in three weeks, while meeting in the playoffs for the fourth time ever. Both Boston and New York each eclipsed the 100-win mark in the same season for the first time ever, while these two franchises are hooking up in the postseason for the first time since the Red Sox erased a 3-0 series deficit to shock the Yankees and capture the 2004 American League pennant.

The year prior, the Yankees walked-off past the Red Sox into the World Series on an Aaron Boone home run into left field in Game 7 of the ALCS. Fifteen years later, Boone has the Yankees in the playoffs in his first year as manager, opposite Boston’s Alex Cora, who is also in his first year as skipper of the Red Sox.

(You know the history, now how they got here)

The Red Sox jumped off the page in April by starting 17-2 and owning a dynamic 68-30 record through the All-Star break. The last time Boston won over 100 games came in 1946, when the Sox picked up 104 victories, but this year’s team set a new standard with 108 wins and a third consecutive AL East title. You can thank for Boston’s offense as offseason acquisition J.D. Martinez finished in the top three in the AL for batting average (.330), home runs (43), and runs batted in (130), while Mookie Betts captured the AL batting crown with a .346 average.

Chris Sale is still seeking his first Cy Young award and was on his way after a solid first two months. However, missed a month with a left shoulder injury in August, while not throwing more than five innings in his last five starts. Boston finished 18-9 in Sale’s 27 starts as he ranked third in the AL in strikeouts (237) and owned a better WHIP (0.86) than Verlander, Kluber, and Cole. In two starts against the Yankees this season, Sale shut down the Bronx Bombers by allowing one run in 13 innings of two blowout victories.

David Price will start Game 2 at Fenway Park for Boston as the former Cy Young winner will likely not step foot on the mound in the Bronx. Price picked up 16 victories for Boston following an injury-shortened 2017, but the Red Sox went 1-3 in his four starts against New York this season. Two of the losses came at Yankee Stadium in which he was tagged for 14 runs in only 8.2 innings of work. Price pitched out of the bullpen in last year’s playoff series against Houston, while his teams are 0-6 in his past six postseason starts since 2013.

The Yankees advanced past the Wild Card round for the second straight season after cruising past the Athletics, 7-2. New York extended its OVER streak to seven consecutive games thanks to home runs from its two big bats in Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. The Yankees will look to get off to a solid start in the ALDS as New York owns a 7-1 record in its past eight road series openers, while capturing four of six series openers against Boston this season.

Five Yankee sluggers knocked out at least 25 home runs this season (Judge, Stanton, Didi Gregorious, Miguel Andujar, and Aaron Hicks), while Stanton was one of four AL players to score and drive in 100 runs.

On the mound, Masahiro Tanaka stumbled in his final two starts by allowing nine runs in eight innings of work against Boston and Tampa Bay. Tanaka managed a 12-6 mark to win at least 12 games for the fifth time in five seasons, while posting a 7-1 road record. The Yankees split four matchups with the Red Sox when Tanaka started, as the right-hander gave up four runs in three of those outings.

Midseason acquisition J.A. Happ put together a perfect 7-0 record in 11 starts for New York after coming over from Toronto. Happ faced the Red Sox four times this season (twice with New York, twice with Toronto) as the southpaw gave up five runs in his last two starts in September in 12 innings of work. Luis Severino tossed four scoreless innings in Wednesday’s Wild Card win as he dominated the Red Sox in three home starts this season, but was 0-2 at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox have not reached the ALCS since winning the World Series back in 2013, while the Yankees have not made the World Series since capturing the title against Philadelphia in 2009. New York has won four of its past five American League Divisional Series since 2009, including rallying from a 2-0 deficit to beat Cleveland last season. The Yankees posted a perfect 5-0 record at home in the 2017 playoffs, while the Red Sox are 0-4 in their past four road playoff contests.

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